Director, Manufacturing Architecture

About the role

About the role Muon seeks a highly experienced Director of Manufacturing Architecture to own and evolve the systems, tools, and processes that our entire spacecraft production engine runs on - PLM, MES, scheduling, and the connective tissue between them. As we scale, we're investing in a next-generation production infrastructure, and we're looking for someone who has built up and driven production systems before to lead that effort - architecting from the ground up where needed, and building on the foundation we already have. The central challenge is versatility: our production infrastructure has to serve three different modes at once: serial/rate production, new product introduction (NPI), and rapid prototyping. You'll architect an infrastructure and operating model that flexes across all three, enabling teams to move quickly on a prototype and repeatedly on a rate build using the same coherent, easy-to-adopt backbone. This person will be a key member of the team and will collaborate closely with Muon Space's head of production, assembly, integration & test (AI&T), quality, supply chain, and mission engineering teams. This role owns the infrastructure layer those production teams depend on. This position is hybrid and requires working on-site in our San Jose, CA office three days per week. Responsibilities - Own the production infrastructure definition end-to-end - PLM, MES, scheduling, and the integrations between them - and drive it into a robust, scalable, well-documented backbone that grows with the company. - Architect for the long term and build pragmatically: assess what exists, build on the parts that work well, and stand up new capabilities where needed - while keeping the system simple and intuitive to adopt. - Design infrastructure capable of accommodating rate production, NPI, and rapid prototyping work. One coherent system that supports both repeatability at scale and speed at the bleeding edge. - Partner with the production and supply chain teams to define the workflows, data models, and processes the tools should enforce, rather than bolting tools onto undefined processes. - Establish the standards, templates, and reusable artifacts (BOM/part/change management, routings, work instructions, scheduling frameworks) that programs and Production TPMs can adopt across missions instead of reinventing them. - Make the systems easy to learn: drive documentation, training, and onboarding so new engineers and TPMs can ramp quickly and rely on the tools with confidence. - Build dashboards and data integrations that give production and leadership clear, real-time visibility into build status, capacity, and constraints across programs. - Coordinate cross-functionally with Information Systems, quality, and supply chain to ensure the infrastructure integrates cleanly with adjacent systems and controls. - Proactively identify and strengthen the critical paths and dependencies in the production stack; drive the roadmap and any migrations without disrupting active builds. - Serve as the integrating owner of production infrastructure - the single point of contact for how spacecraft get planned, tracked, and built through our systems. Qualifications - B.S. in an engineering discipline (M.S. preferred), or equivalent technical experience - a genuine technical background is required. - 8+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing/production, production engineering, and/or technical program management, with significant time spent building up and driving production operations. - Demonstrated track record of standing up, scaling, or overhauling production infrastructure (PLM, MES, scheduling/ERP, and their integrations) into a scalable, maintainable system. - Deep, hands-on experience across multiple production modes - high-rate/serial production, NPI, and prototype/development builds - and an understanding of how infrastructure must differ and flex to serve each. - Strong grasp of production fundamentals: BOM/part/change management, routings, work instructions, MRP/scheduling, and shop-floor execution. - Proven ability to design systems and processes that are simple, intuitive, and easy for teams to learn and trust. - Experience partnering with IT/tools teams on system selection, configuration, and integration. - Excellent analytical and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work successfully across engineering, production, quality, and supply chain. - Leadership experience or clear readiness to lead - this role has a path to managing the Production TPM team. - Nice to have: spacecraft or aerospace/high-reliability hardware production experience; experience scaling an organization from prototype to rate production. Salary The salary range for this role is $261,000 - $292,000 , plus a competitive equity grant and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will be determined based on skills, qualifications, experience, and geographic location as assessed during the interview process. About Muon Space Founded in 2021, Muon Space is an end-to-end Space Systems Provider that designs, builds, and operates LEO satellite constellations delivering mission-critical data. Our revolutionary, integrated technology stack enables customers to optimize every dimension of their missions for faster time-to-orbit and superior constellation remote sensing performance. Our state-of-the-art facility in the heart of Silicon Valley is optimized for manufacturing spacecraft and rapid, flexible payload integration at scale. From climate monitoring to national security, Muon Space is dedicated to delivering Earth Intelligence for a safer and more resilient world. Taking Care of Our Team At Muon salary is only part of our total compensation package. In addition to salary, full-time employees receive equity compensation as well as benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401k retirement plan, short & long term disability and life insurance. We also offer three weeks paid vacation for new employees, along with 12 paid holidays, unlimited sick time and paid parental leave. Our mission embraces the entire planet and we believe our team should too. Muon is dedicated to creating a diverse and dynamic company and workforce. We believe in equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or gender identity. We value diversity in the workplace, and that starts with our applicants. We encourage you to apply, even if you don't check all the boxes, and we look forward to reviewing your application! In addition, if you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know. Muon is currently registered and able to hire in the following states: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, IL, IA, ID, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA ITAR/EAR Requirements This position requires access to export controlled information. To conform to U.S. Government export regulations applicable to that information, applicant must either be (A) a U.S. person, defined as a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, (B) eligible to access the export controlled information without a required export authorization, or (C) eligible and reasonably likely to obtain the required export authorization from the applicable U.S. government agency. The Company may, for legitimate business reasons, decline to pursue any export licensing process.